Is being a vegan completely following halacha? Even if not eating anything traif (non-kosher), perhaps it's not truly kosher because you are not following the commandments to domesticate animals and eat meat.

4 Answers
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There's no specific mitzvah to eat meat (except in connection with certain sacrifices, but those are in abeyance until the Holy Temple is rebuilt - may it be soon).

There is a mitzvah to enjoy Shabbat and holidays, and for most people that includes eating meat. But it's somewhat subjective; if for a particular individual that would be a burden rather than a pleasure, then by all means they should eat something else.

The real issue, perhaps, is more one of outlook. If a person chooses to be a vegetarian/vegan for health reasons, for example, then there's nothing wrong with that. On the other hand, if their rationale is that humans have no right to use animals for food or the like, then we need to ask: why are they trying to be more merciful than G-d?

Would a vegan have a problem with wearing leather tefillin?
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jakeMay 12 '11 at 6:09

@jake - I imagine so. My wife is vegetarian (not vegan) and will not wear anything made of leather.
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Ted HoppMay 26 '11 at 18:10

@TedHopp, in that case, there are halachic issues with being vegan (this should be an answer, really). T'filin are mandatory for males. So are tzitzis which ideally (IIRC; CYLOR) should be wool; do vegans not wear wool?
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msh210♦May 26 '11 at 18:38

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@Jake, I was told of a fellow who didn't want to wear tefillin because of cruelty to animals; Rabbi Rakeffet observed that he could have tefillin made from a cow that died of natural causes. (Needs to be a kosher species, but not killed in any special way.)
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ShalomNov 4 '11 at 0:59

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Can you clarify what you mean by 'more merciful than God'? Where do we see God eating meat, that we would be being more merciful than Him?
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Double AA♦Aug 28 '12 at 22:41

In addition to Alex's thorough answer, it's worth noting that even a vegan diet might pose a problem of bugs, if fruits and vegetables are not washed / checked properly, based on the situation in your location (different vegetables require checking in different places, as the bug infestations differ by locale).

yes, but do vegans check the lettuce before eating it, to ensure there are no bug? and if they do, do they check it with the same thoroughness that Kashrut requires?
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MenachemMay 26 '11 at 18:35

Bishul Akum is a problem when the food is Oleh Al Shulchan Malachim, suitable for a king's table (Avoda Zara 38a) I often wondered if the food served at Vegan restaurant would meet this criteria.
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RCWMay 26 '11 at 19:58

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Most kosher consumers also don't check their vegetables more than the usual washing -- and they rely on the views of major poskim who were lenient about this -- see the Aruch HaShulchan YD 100:13ff. So I don't see any reason to draw this distinction with vegan cuisine (except for people who are extra scrupulous about bugs)
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CuriouserMay 26 '11 at 20:26

Contrary to what many frum Jews believe, it is not required to eat meat on Shabbos and Yom Tov. So as far as the dietary aspect of veganism goes, it is permissible.

But many interpret veganism to mean that one does not wear clothes made from animals.

There is probably no problem with a Jewish woman being completely vegan in this sense (though there's the issue of owning mezuzot). But men are required to use tefillin (made from leather) and tallit (wool).

There are in fact "kosher vegans" who eat vegan but use kosher tefillin. Rabbi Shmuley Yanklowitz has started an organization to support them (called Shamayim V'Aretz.) The head of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, Richard Schwartz, is an Orthodox Jew (who is at least vegetarian).

The ideological aspect is potentially problematic. Many vegans believe it is inherently wrong to ever use animals for food. So if this is the motivation for being vegan, it contradicts Judaism, which permits certain animal foods. For this reason, some say it is forbidden to be a vegetarian or vegan for "animal rights" reasons. However, because factory farm conditions cause unnecessary suffering to animals, and unnecessary suffering is forbidden (the mitzvah of ba'alei tzaar chaim), one could be vegan to avoid benefiting from or supporting probable violations of this mitzvah.

Another consideration is that veganism is an all-encompassing lifestyle and ideology for many people. A possible danger is that Jewish vegans will find this lifestyle and community satisfying and no longer feel the need to believe in or observe Judaism. This shouldn't prevent Jews from becoming vegan for reasons of health or ba'alei tzaar chaim, but they should avoid getting too invested in vegan ideology, community, etc.

Are you calling the Rambam not frum? Also, who said Tzitzit had to be wool (certainly for Ashkenazim they don't)? Note that tefillin and mezuzot can be produced from Nevelah, that is, an animal which died of natural causes. Can you source that busy farm conditions which are neccasary to produce the quantity of meat the market demands at the price it demands is considered tzaar baalei chayim and not necessary pain?
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Double AA♦Jan 7 '13 at 19:45

No, I didn't say that whoever disagreed with me is non frum. I know Rambam seems to say eating meat is required. As I understand it, however, the practical halacha accepted today is eating meat is not required, at least for those who are not accustomed to it. I wasn't referring to tzitzit (tallit katan) but rather tallit gadol -- doesn't that need to be wool?
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yirmiJan 7 '13 at 19:57

Today's factory farm conditions are not necessary pain (just an idea -- view the video "Meet your meat" and ask yourself if that's necessary). It is definitely possible to make meat, dairy and eggs on a mass scale with much less suffering, though it would increase the price somewhat. This is common knowledge among advocates of humane agriculture (and is the historical experience, as there have been some improvements). Sorry -- I don't have a source offhand.
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yirmiJan 7 '13 at 20:00

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yirmi I know of no differences between the requirements of a tallis gadol or katan. As for if we paskin like the Rambam, the Magen Avraham quotes it lehalacha in OC 529:3 and he is brought by the Mishna Berura :11 and :20. See also Biur Halacha there who tries to distinguish between Mitzva and Chovah. The Aruch HaShulchan also quotes the Rambam unchallenged in OC 529:5. Obviously others may argue, but I wouldn't say it is so clear cut against the Rambam.
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Double AA♦Jan 7 '13 at 20:09

Even if you are actually completely vegan, meaning not only not eating meat or any other product derived from animals (such as milk), but also checking for bugs and not using utensils that were used for meat or other non-kosher things, it wouldn't be enough.

Keep in mind that terefot are not the only halacha in cashrut. For example, there's also nesech wine, orla and bishul oved cohavim.

There's also the question of whether abstaining from meat is permissible.

First of all, there's no obligation to domesticate animals like you say, but if you do want to eat meat you need to slaughter. While there's no specific commandment to eat meat, there is a commandment to be happy on iom tov and joyful on shabat. It is explained that this is achieved by eating meat meals. Because of this, people make a point on eating meat on holidays, shabat and at other festive meals such as berit mila or weddings. On the other hand, you could argue that someone may dislike meat and hate its taste, so eating meat on shabat not only wouldn't achieve the proper goal but would in fact have the opposite effect.

Most religious Jews do eat meat, but I have heard that there are some that don't. I met one religious Jew who was actually vegan (we ordered pizza and he ordered one without the cheese) and one rav who had a certain revulsion to meat after a visit to a chicken slaughter house, so he would eat only a little meat on shabat just to fulfil the halacha.

I have heard some answers from rabanim from people dwelling with this apparent stira (being vegan). The conclusion was that while you shouldn't look to follow this path lechatehila or convince people to do it, there are those unique people that are vegan (or vegetarian) and I didn't see them trying to convince them otherwise.

Also, on a general note, the individual's health should always come first. It is common for vegans to lack some kind of vitamin and needed supplements, or they put their health at risk because of the lack of something in the blood.

On your last paragraph: I've heard the same, but it would be better with a citation. Your second-last paragraph also would be better with some citations. You're summarising reported rulings, without referencing the actual rulings.
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TRiGJan 5 '13 at 21:03